A new business is making solar water heaters available to residents of the Foothills and Upstate. Skyuka Sun sells and installs SolarH2Ot⪚&bsp; Solar Water Heating Systems, designed and produced here in North Carolina. &bsp;

Skyuka Sun is owned and operated by Cindy & Greg McCarren, who currently own and operate Foothills Fireplace & Stove in Lynn.

&dquo;This is a natural extension of what we already do,&dquo; says Greg McCarren. &dquo;We&squo;re experienced working on roofs and have to know our way around most aspects of building in order to install chimneys and fireplaces. We have a plumber on staff, and four of us have already been certified with this equipment.&dquo;

According to McCarren, a properly sized solar hot water heating system will take care of about 70% of a household&squo;s hot water needs, with a backup needed for cloudy periods and during the shorter days of winter. &bsp;

New incentives in the recent stimulus bill make this already affordable alternative energy even more attractive to homeowners. &bsp;

&dquo;Unlike solar electric systems, solar water heating is a very stable, proven technology&squo;&dquo; says McCarren. &dquo;The up-front investment isn&squo;t that large and the payback is fairly quick.&dquo;

Skyuka Sun is located next to Foothills Fireplace & Stove on the corner of Highway 108 and Skyuka Road.

A working display is installed in the store and the public is invited to stop in to see how solar hot water works.